Caries can cause a variety of local consequences related to the mouth, as well as systemic consequences related to other body systems:
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99).
- Atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries) – children who had caries and/or periodontal disease (disease of the periodontium) at about 8 years of age had higher intima-media thickness in younger adulthood
- Endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart).
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).
- Abscesses in other organs (e.g., brain or liver abscesses).
- Scattering of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria in the blood and lymphatic circulation
Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).
- Gingivitis – inflammatory irritation of the gum line due to plaque and caries.
- Periodontitis – inflammation of the periodontium with the risk of tooth loosening and tooth loss.
- Pulpitis – inflammation of the dental nerve, with possible pain and further abscesses (accumulation of pus in the tissues).
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
- Bone inflammation (ostitis, osteomyelitis).
